Electric arc lamp



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. H. BURGER.

ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

No. 259,477. Patented June 13, 1882.

2 t e e h s q M e h S 2 R E G R U B H R m d O M O W ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

No. 259,477. Patented June 13, 1882.

Wzeyses Nv PETERS phnwuma m her, wcshin mn. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. BURGER, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 259,477, dated June 13, 1882.

Application filed December 14, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. Boaenmof Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

M yimprovements consist in the combination, in an electric lamp, of an adjustable carbon, a rotary screw carrying the same, a non-rotary nut with which said screw engages, and which is composed of separable or expansible sections from which the screw may be readily disengaged when desired, and an electric motor comprising a gear-wheel which is locked to said screw so that it will impart rotary motion thereto, and yet will not interfere with its lougitudinal movement.

The improvements also consist in the combination, with an adjustable carbon, of a rotary screw carrying the same, a non-rotary nut composed of separable or expansible portions, which may be moved apart to release the screw, and a springforholding said portions normally in engagement with the screw and for returning them when moved apart.

The improvements also consist in a novel construction of the nut and manner of applying the spring, particularly hereinafter described and claimed.

Theimprovements also consist in novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed,and including a novel manner of applying springs for raising the frame, carrying the lower carbon, and an electro-magnet for drawing down said frame to establish the voltaic arc, and also ineluding a novel combination of one of the carbon-holders, and a bar on which the same may be moved longitudinally and turned to bring its carbon in line with the other carbon, and means for securing said carbon-holder after adjustment.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a partly-sectional sideview of an electric lamp embodying myimprovements. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section of the lamp, taken at the plane of the dotted line 00 a2,Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same, taken at the plane of the dotted line 3 3 Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the same, taken at the plane of the dotted line 2 2, Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a detail View of the upper portion of the lamp,

(No model.)

illustrative of the connection of the circuitwires.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A designates the lower carbon, and B designates the upper carbon, which is adjusted or fed toward the other. The upper carbon is detachably fastened in a holder, 13. which is carried by a screw, B The screw B engages with a non-rotary nut, G, arranged on the under side of a metal plate, D, and it has a longitudinal groove, a, with which engages a spur or tooth, b, consisting of a screw inserted in the hub of the gear-wheel E which forms part of an electric motor. W hen this gear-wheel is rotated it rotates the screw, and the rotation of the latter within the nut causes it to move longitudinally and feed or adjust the carbon B downward. The screw B works up into a hollow rod, F, whereby the lamp is suspended.

In order that the said screw may be moved upward easily and quickly, the nut O is composed of separable or expansible portions pivoted. independently of each other to the plate D, for then these portions may be separated or expanded at will to release the screw. As shown, the two portions of the nut are held normally in engagement with the screw by a spring, 0, which is fastened to the under side of the plate D. This spring impinges against one portion forward of its pivot, and by pressing it against the portion of the other which is in rear of its pivot it keeps both in contact with the screw. A handle, 0, arranged on one portion may be manipulated so as to separate or expand bot-h portions.

Above the plate D is arranged a similar plate, D, and the two are connected by rods D so as to form a fixed or stationary frame. Within this frame are the electric motor, before alluded to as employed for operating the screw B and an electro-magnet, H, whereby the lower carbon is retracted to establish the voltaic arc. The suspendingrod F, before mentioned, is secured to the plate D of this frame. Surrounding this frame is an adjustable frame consisting of an upper metal bar or plate, G, a lower metal bar, G, and upright connecting metallic rods G The upper plate, G, of this adjustable frame fits upon the suspending-rod F, and also upon two pins, (1, extending from the plate D of the fixed frame.

7 Its rods Gr also work through guides or blocks I justable frame.

D of insulating material, extending from the plate D of the fixed frame. By these means the adjustable frame is guided in its movements. It will be observed that the plate G of the adjustable frame is insulated from the rods G by bushings of insulating material, 0.

The lower carbon, A, is arranged in a holder, A, which is supported by the bar G of the adjustable frame. The upper plate, G, of the said frame constitutes an armature for the electro-magnet H, and whenever this magnet is sufficiently energized the frame G G G is drawn downward, thereby separating the lower carbon from the upper to establish the voltaic are. When the electro-magnet is not sulficiently energized to hold down the adjustable frame the latter is raised more or less by spiral springs I, which'surround the rods Gr between the blocks D and collars J, secured upon the said rods. These collars may be adjusted to different positions and secured there by setscrews to vary the force exerted by the springs. The adjustable frame is limited in its upward movement by a collar, F, on the suspendingrod F. The said collar may be adjusted into different positions and secured byaset-screw to vary the range of movement of the said ad- The lower carbon may be turned freely in its holder A and secured in position by a set-screw, A At the lower end the holder is provided with a socket, which fits on a round portion of the bar G of the adjustable frame. -Hence it maybe canted at any angle or moved bodily along the bar. A set-screw, f, provides for fastening it in position. Thus universal adjustment of the lower carbon is provided for.

I will just say a word or two about the manner of securing the suspending-rod F to the plate D of the fixed frame, and then I will proceed with a description of the electric circuit through the lamp and of its electric motor. The lower end of the said rod F is externally screw-threaded and enters a socket in said plate; but in order to lock it a screw, F is screwed against it from the under side of said plate. This screw F is preferable to a fixed stop, because it may be adjusted to permit of the eye of the suspending-rod to be adj usted at any desired angle relatively to the fixed frame, so as to cause the lamp to hang in any desirable manner. The screw F- is hollow, like the rod.

The electric current enters the lamp by a wire, K, and leaves it by a wire, K. These wires are connected to binding-screws L,which are mounted on the plateD of the fixed frame, but are insulated therefrom by bushings g. From the wire K the electric current extends along a metal finger, M, to one of the rods G2 of the adjustable frame. From this rod it extends to the bar G, thence to the lower carbon, A, and thence to the upper carbon, B. From the upper carbon it extends to and through the fixed frame to its plate D. To the latter are attached by a screw and washer,

cuit a wire, N, extends to an electro-magnet,

N, thence to the contact-point O of a circuitbreaking device, 0 O 0 and thence to the fixed frame. This circuit-breaker consists of the contact-point 0, an arm, 0, which extends from a rock-shaft and is normally in contact with the said contact-point, and an arm, 0 which is acted upon to oscillate the rock-shaft. The contact-point O is supported in an insulated bushing. Aspring, O acting on the arm 0 holds the arm 0 normally against the contact-point O. A wire, P, extends from the wire N to an electro-magnet, P, thence to a circuit-breaking device which consists of a contact-point, Q, and an arm, Q, which extends from a rock-shalt on which is mounted the armature ot' the electro-magnet N. The contact-point Q is insulated from its support by a bushing of non-conducting material, and the arm Q is insulated in the same way from the rock-shaft which carries it. A spring, Q keeps the arm Q normally away from the contact-piece Q and the armature away from the electro-magnet N. From this breaking device Q Q the wire 1? extends to a metallic finger or brush, R, which coacts with the commutator P of the electric motor. This electric motor consists essentially of the electro-magnet P and a rotary armature, P made in the form of a cross and mounted on the same shaft which carries the commutator, but above the said electro-magnet. The rotary movements of this shaft are transmitted to the gear-wheel E by intermediate gear wheels. One of the arms of the armature P earries a catch, 70, which is adapted to engage with a stop, k, carried by the rock-shaft on which the armature of the electro-magnet N is supported. Whenever, through the consumption of the carbons,'the resistance in the main circuit is increased, so as to cause a sufficient amount of electricity to traverse the derived circuit, the electro-magnet N attracts its armature and brings the arm Q into contact with the contact-piece Q and completes the circuit through the wire P. The armature 1? of the electromagnet P is at the same time released, and the armature is set in motion by its electromagnet under control of the commutator. The arm of the armature P which is opposite the one which carries the catch is is provided with a pin, j, which in each rotation of the armature swings aside' the arm 0 of the circuit-breaking device 0 0 0 thus removing the arm 0 from the contact-point O, breaking the circuit through the circuit-wire N, and demagnetizing the electro-magnet N. The arma ture of the latter then moves away and obtrudes the stop It in the way of the catch is, thereby arresting the armature P The motion of the armature is imparted to the screw B and causes the upper carbon to be fed downward. The electric motor will continue to operate in this manner until the are is reduced to the proper length. As the electromagnet l? is in circuit only when required, it does not offer any objectionable resistance in the lamp.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electriclamp, thecombination, with an adjustable carbon, of a rotary screw carrying the same, a non-rotary nut with which said screw engages, an d which is composed of separable or expansible sections from which the screw maybe readily disengaged when desirable, and an electric motor comprising a gearwhcel which is locked to said screw so that it will impart rotary motion thereto, and yet will not interfere with its longitudinal movement, substantially as specified.

2. In an electric lamp, the combination, with an adjustable carbon, of a rotary screw carrying the same, a non-rotary nut composed of separable or expansible portions which may be moved apart to release the screw, and a spring for holding said portions normally in engagement with the screw and for returning said portions when moved apart, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the screw B of the non-rotary nut composed of portions U, each pivoted near one end, and so arranged that when one portion is swung away from the screw its pivoted end will act upon the other portion forward of its pivot to swing it away also, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with the screw B of the non-rotary nut composed of portions 0,

each pivoted near one end and so arranged that when one portion is swung out away from the screw its pivoted end will act upon the other portion forward of its pivot to swing it away also, and a spring for bearin g upon one portion forward of its pivot to keep both portions in engagement with the screw, substantially as specified.

.5. In an electric lamp, the combination, with means for adjusting or feeding a carbon, of the derived circuit N P, electro-magnet N and its armature, elect-ro-magnet I and its armature and commutator, the circuit-breaker O 0 0 the circuit-breaker Q Q, the catch 70, and the stop It, substantially as specified.

6. The combination, with the frame D D D and its attached suspending-rod F, and guides D of the plate G, guided upon said rod, the rods G fitting in said guides and supporting the lower carbon, the adjustable collars J on said rod-s G the springs I, arranged between said guides and collars, and the electro-magnet H, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In an electric lamp, the combination,with a holder for one of the carbons, of a horizontal bar on which said holder fits, and on which the holder may be adjusted in the direction of the length of the bar to move its carbon laterally in one direction relatively to the other carbon, or turned to move its carbon laterally in another direction, and means for securing said carbon-holder upon said bar after adjustment, substantially as specified.

8. The combination of the bar D, containing a socket, the suspending-rod F, screwed into the upper side of said socket, and the screw 1?, forming a stop for said rod and adapted to be adjusted in said socket, so that the rod, when screwed down against it, will have its ring or eye standing at any desired angle, substantiall y as specified.

F. H. BURGER.

Witnesses:

T. J. KEANE, J AMES R. BOWEN. 

